FADING CHARACTERISTICS OF A 2.3-GHZ RADIO TELEMETRY CHANNEL IN A HOSPITAL BUILDING

This paper reports on radio path attenuation measurements made in a ho spital complex at a spot frequency of 2.340 GHz. Power loss figures fo r fixed path propagation in a variety of building types have been dete rmined for proposed telemetry use in operational ward situations. Thro ughout the hospital, the radio paths assessed all exhibited a loss in excess of that calculated for free-space communications. Modern buildi ngs had external wall losses 10-25 dB, with dividing walls in wards co ntributing an additional 5 dB. Received signal strength levels indicat ed a Rayleigh distribution Sor obstructed paths. Temporal testing was used to find the rate and depth of signal fades caused by the movement of personnel and equipment during normal ward usage; signal level red uctions of greater than 35 dB were common during busy periods.